Wire drawing machine



J. T. LEECH' WIRE DRAWING MACHINE April 18, 1933.

5 sheets/ sheet 1 Filed Jan". 30, 1928 ECI:

.N @MHH April 18, 1933. J. T. LEECH y 1,904,947

I WIRE DRAWING MACHINE Filed Jan. 50, 1928 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Q 6/0 E 45' my v Z6/ 50 v l /7 /mr M lNVENvTOR April 18, 1933. J. T. LEEcH WIRE DRAWING MACHINE l 5 ASheets-Sheet 3 Filed Jan. 50, 1928 VENTO 'April 18, 1933. 1' T. LEECH 1,904,947

WIRE DRAWING MACHINE Filed Jan. 50, 1928 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented Apr.4 18, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE JACOB T. LEECH, F BEAVER, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR T0 UNION DRAWN STEEL COM'.- PANY, lOF BEAVER FALLS, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION 0F PENNSYLVANIA l WIRE DRAWING MACHINE Application led January 30, 1928. Serial No. 250,505.

This invention relates to the manufacture of drawn steel, and more particularly to a drawing machine unit and a pusher mechanism therefor.

In the drawing of steel it is necessary in order to start the drawing operation to sta-rt the wire or rod to be drawn through'a die, pushing the end of the Wire far enough through the die so that it can be grasped by the drawing mechanism at the other end of the die support.

In starting wire of relatively heavy cross section through the die, it is possible to use a pusher. Such a pusher clamps the wire or rod several inches back of the end thereof and shoves or pushes the wire through the drawing die. With articles of relatively light cross section, it is not practical to use such a pusher, and the ends of the bars are reduced either by pickling the ends in an acid bath or by forging a reduced end thereon, or both, and then starting the wire through the die by hand. If the starting end of the wire or rod is not iirst reduced, it can not be started through the die at all, and the use of a pusher would only bend the wire.

According to the present invention there is provided a pusher of novel construction capable of providing continuous support for the wire for the entire distance between the die and the clamp of the pusher mechanism. The guides for the wire are telescopingly arranged so as to arrange for the travel of the pusher mechanism and still keep the wire confined between such guides. With such an arrangement, wire or rods of relatively small diameter can be started through .the die and be restrained from buckling. The formation of the reduced end by forging or pickling is not therefore necessar The invention also contemplates the provlsion of a pusher mechanism which may be opened up to facilitate the insertion of the wire or rod therein and which can be raised into and lowered out of operative position.

The invention may be readily understood by reference to the accompanying drawings which illustrate one embodiment of my invention, and in whichi Figure 1 is a side elevation of a portion of the drawing machine with a pusher mechanism constructed' in accordance with my invention applied thereto;

Figure la is a fragmentary view of a. portion of the driving mechanism associated with the pusher mechanism;

Figure 2 is a side view on a larger scale of the pusher mechanism shown in Figure 1 Figure 3 is a side elevation of the pusher mechanism and the clamping jaws apart from the housingin which the same is carried;

Figure 4 is a top plan view of that portion of the mechanism shown in Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a transverse vertical section in the plane of line V-V of Figure 3 Figure 6 is a transverse Vertical section in the plane of line VI--VI of Figure 4;

Figure 7 is a detail view of the cam for actuating the wire gripping mechanism; and

Figures 8 to 13, inclusive, are sections through cooperating d'ies for strips of various shapes.

In the drawings, the pusher mechanism is shown in conjunction with a drawing means of the novel type disclosed in my copending application Serial No. 243,100 filed December 28th, 1927, but it will be understood that the pusher mechanism is not confined to use with any particular type of drawing mechanism.

In the drawings; 2 designates a housing having a stand 3 at the front thereof in which is a vertical guide way 4. Supported in the housing 2 near the top thereof is a die holder and die 5.

Slidably mounted in the guide way 4 on the front face of the support 3 is a frame 6. Any suitable means may be provided forraising or lowering the frame 6, a hydraulic jack 7 being shown in the drawings for that purpose.

In Figure 1, the frame 6 is shown in elei vated position at the uppermost limit of its movement in which position the pushing mechanism hereinafter to be described is in longitudinal alignment with the die.

Mounted in the frame 6 is a longitudinally movable carriage 8 having parallel side pieces 9. Each of the side pieces 9 has a horizontal ledge 10 thereon and on each ledge is a horizontally extending wire guiding block 11.

tially 90' of the circumference of the bar or wire to be drawn. The curvature of the faces, as shown in Figure 5, is suficient to prevent the wire from buckling vertically as well as horizontally. The wire engaging blocks 11 have tapered side faces 13 extending down to the wire engaging faces 12, the inclination of the tapered faces 13 being substantially 45.

Each of the vertical side pieces 9 on the carriage has a sliding bolt 14 passing transversely therethrough in a .horizontal plane (see Figures 3 and 4) adjacent one end thereof. The bolt 14 has a head 15 received in a recess in the member 11. Each bolt 14 has a cam follower 16 on its outer end. Confined between the cam follower 16 and the side face of the member 11 is a compression spring 17. The compression spring 17 urges the cam follower 16 outwardly, so as to move the bolts 14 in opposite directions to move the bar engaging members 11 away from each other. At the opposite end of each of the parts 9 are two similar bolts 18 with heads 19 received in the members 11 and with cam followers 2O at the other ends of the bolts. Around each bolt 18 is a compression spring 21 corresponding in function to the spring 17 The purpose of the bolts 18 and springs 21 is also to eEect movement of the members 11 toward and away from each other.

'In the stationary frame 6 at each side of the movable carriage 8 is a plate 22 having a cam surface 23 therein for cooperation with the cam follower 16 and having cam faces 24 therein of similar shape for cooperation with the cam followers 20. The rods 18 and cams 24 are in different horizontal planes from the bolt 14 and cam surface 23 so that as the carriage 8 moves along the cam follower 16 of thebolt 14 can never engage either of the cam faces 24, although in Figure 4 the cam surfaces are diagrammatically shown in theu same plane. By reference to Figure 3, itl

will be seen, however, that the bolt 14 lies in a plane between the bolts 18. When the carriage 8 is moved in the direction of the arrow in Figure 4 ashereinafter more fully described, the cam followers 16 and 20 which are, lwhen the parts are in the position shown 1n Figure 4, in engagement with the respective cam faces 23 and 24, the bolts 14 and 18 will be gradually forced inwardly to move the wire guide members 11 inwardly toward each other. Upon reverse movement of the carriage, the spings 17 and 21 function to move the respective rods 14 and 18 in the opposite direction-to spread the guide blocks.

Supported in the frame 6, between the carriage 8 when` it is in the position shown in Figures 3 and 4 and the drawing die 5, is a bottom guide 25 of a shape similar to the guide blocks 11, but set in a plane at right angles thereto. The bottom guide plate 25 has a wire or rod engaging surface 25a complementary to the guide faces 12 of the blocks 11. By reference to Figures 3 and 4 it will be seen that the members 25 and 11 overlap for a short distance with the parts in the position shown in Figures 3 and 4. Spaced above the lower guide 25 is a complementary upper guide block 26 having a wire or rod engaging surface 27 also complementary to the surface 12 of the blocks 11. The upper and lower blocks 25 and 26 have beveled side faces 28 which arealso at an angle of 45. The upper guide plate 26 overlaps the guide blocks 11 to the same extent that the lower guide plate 25 overlaps the block 11. It will be seenl that in thisoperation where the four blocks overlap that a bar confined between the surfaces 12, 25a and 27 is entirely surrounded, whereas forwardly of the overlapping a bar would be confined only between the members 11 and between the overlap and the die the bar would be confined between the lower and upper blocks 25 and 26.

The upper block 26 is carried on a plate 29 secured to the lower end of lan adjusting screw 30 which is capable of being raised and lowered by a hand wheel 31. The adjusting screw 30 passes through the outer end of an arm 32. The arm 32 has a socket 33 which sits ;on the top of a fixed post 34l bolted to one side of the frame 6 of the unit. By raising the screw 30 and then swinging the arm 32 on the post 34 the upper plate 26 can be swung entirely away from its normal position over the bottom memberg25. This `is done for the purpose of opening the pushing guide to permit of the insertion of the wire or rod to be drawn.

Carried on the carriage 8 forwardly of the side supports 9 of the guide blocks 11T is a wire or rod ripping mechanism 35. The construction o the wire gripping means 35 is best shown in Figure 6. This wire gripping mechanism includes a supporting block 36 having a` cut away'central portion 37 in which are opposed wire or rod gripping jaws 38. The jaws 38 have anges 38a at one end thereof projecting laterally therefrom. Disposed rearwardly of each of the jaws 38 is a longitudinally extending wedge block 39, this wedge block having a longitudinally tapered face cooperating with a correspondingly tapered face on the back of the member 38. To the rear of each wedge block 39l or rod gripping members 38, being' in Contact with the wire or rod, slide longitudinally of the support 36 on the wedge blocks 39 thereby causing the members 38 to tightly grip a wire or rod received between them. Upon forcing the wedge 40 down, the wedge blocks 39 can spread apart4 to allow the jaws 39 to release the wire or rod. The jaws 38 are moved longitudinally to their normal position by means of compression springs 43 in the wedge blocks 39 engaging against the flanges 38 on the-members 38. The jaws 38 and wedge blocks 39 are retained against vertical movement by keepers 44 fixed tothe top of the block 36. The construction of the gripping jaw is substantially the same as that disclosed and claimed in my copending application Serial No. 243,100 filed December 28th, 1927. At the forward end of the carriage 8 is an upstanding lug 8a. When the parts are in the position shown in Figures 3 and 4, the upstanding lug 8a is spaced away from the block 36.

When motion is imparted to the carriage 8 to move it in the direction of the arrow shown in Figure 4 by the mechanism hereinafter described, the carriage 8 first moves relatively to the wire gripping unit 35 until the lug 8a contacts with the end face of the block 36 of this unit. During this period of relative motion between the carriage and the wire gripping unit, the guides 11 are moved c together into wire guiding positionby the pins 14 and 18, as hereinbefore described, so that the wire is confined against buckling between the guides before it is engaged by the gripping mechanism.

Carried on the bottom of the carnage or part 8 is a series of teeth forming a rack 45. The rack 45 meshes with a pinion 46. The pinion 46 engages a second rack 47. The rack 47 is connected through a link 48 with a crank 49 on a shaft 50. The shaft 50 carries a sprocket wheel 51 which is driven through a chain 52 engaging a sprocket 53 on the shaft 54'in the housing 2. This shaft 54 carries sprockets over which pass chains 55 that carry a draw head 56, as explained 1n my said copending application hereinbefore referred to. The shaft 54 is driven in the operation of the drawing machine. There is vsuflicient slack in the chain 52, which is of the roller type, to allow for the vertical movement of the frame 6 up and down. Between the sprocket 51 and the shaft 50 is a clutch 57 for operatively connecting the sprocket 51 and the shaft 50. In 'the operation of the machine with the parts in the position shown in Figure 3, which is the starting position, with the wire or rod extending between the gripping jaws 38 between the guides 11 and between the lower and upper guides 25 and 26 and projecting into the die 5, the clutch y57 is operated to rotate the shaft 50 and revolve the crank 49. This causes the rack 47 to move in one direction revolving the pinion 46, the pinion 46 engaging the rack 45 on the carriage 8 causing the carriage 8 to move in the direction of the arrow in Figure 4. Upon the initial movement of the carriage, the wire gripping unit 35 remains stationary, as hereinbefore explained, while the cam followers 16 and 20 on the bolts 14 and 18 engage the cams 23 and24, forcing the guides 11 together. By the time that the guides 11 are together the lug 8a engages the wire gripping unit 35, and all of the parts on the carriage continue to move in the direction of the arrow shown in Figure 4. When the wire gripping unit 35 begins to move, the extensions 42 on the wedge 40 strike a cam surface 60, forcing the wedges 40 upwardly. The upward movement of the wedges 40 moves the wedges 39 transversely to bring the jaws 38 into gripping relation with the wire. Upon the continued travel of the carriage, the Wire gripping jaws 38 ride longitudinally a slight distance on the wedges 39 to force the wire gripping elements 38 into tight gripping contact with the rod. With the further movement of the carriage in this direction, the rod is pushed along with the carriage. As the carriage moves along over the lower and upper guides 25 and 26, the guides 11 telescope over'the guides 25 and 26. The wire between the guides is pushed through the die and is prevented from buckling by the guides 25 and 26 and 11. As the guides 11 overlap the guides 25 and 26 more and more, a greater portion of the wire will be entirely surrounded by the guides. The carriage 8 moves toward the die until the guides 11 have traveled along the guides 25 and 26 substantially their full length. The length of travel of the carriage corresponds to the length which it is desired to project the wire through the die. As the carriage 8 approaches the limit of its travel in the direction of the arrow shown in Figure 4, the extensions 41 on the wedges 40 strike a cam 61. This forces the wedges 40 down and allows the gripping jaws of the pusher to release' the wire. After the wire has been released the direction of travel of the carriage is reversed due to the'fact that the continued rotation of the crank 49 reverses the direction of travel of the rack 47. When the parts have been returned to thel position shown in Figures 3 and 4, the clutch is released. The top guide 26 is then swung out of position over the lower guide 25 as hereinbefore explained, and the entire frame 6 with the mechanism carried thereby is lowered by the operation of the hydraulic jack. By lowering the pusher below the level of the drawing die, the mechanism is not in the way of the wire or rodbeing drawn. Due to the fact that the wire or rod is apt to be damaged when being drawn if it whips against any metal object, the advantage of lowering the pusher out of the path of travel of the wire is appreciated. This also allows the grease box or oil reservoir to be swung into place to lubricate the rod or wire to be drawn.

For pushing the wedges 40 up to render the wire gripping mechanism operable, I have shown a laterally movable cam member 60 which is projected laterally to an opertive position by a compression spring 60. The cam member 60 has a vertically inclined cam surface on one side thereof and an angular face on the other side thereof, the faces being designated 60 and 60", respectively. A keeper 62 provides the support for the cam member 60. Different positions of the operating extension 42 of the wed e 40 are shown in dotted lines in Figure 7. hen the pusher mechanism is retracted to its normal position, the element 42 is to the left of the cam 60 as viewed in Figure 7. When the wire gripper moves forward upon the initial operation' ofthe pusher, the operating eX- tension 42 rides 'up the inclined surface 60 of the cam 60 to set the gripping jaws. When the pusher mechanism returns, and the extension 42 is in a position at the right of the cam 60 shown in Figure 7, the extension 42 will engage the angular surface 60b of the cam 60 and force the cam 60 laterally out of its path of travel against the compression of the spring 60. Thisarrangement automatically provides for the setting of the gripping jaws upon each forward stroke of the pusher mechanism. The member 6l, of course, automatically effects the release of the grippin jaws upon the complelion of the travel o the gripping member.

In order that the guides of the pusher mechanism need not be excessively long, they are made of a convenient length and the wire is pushed through the die a sufficient distance to be engaged by the gripping mechanism of the drawing unit by two or three successive reciprocations of the pusher. In other words, instead of the wire being pushed through a suiicient distance upon a single operation thereof, the dimensions of the parts are preferably such that two or more successive operations of the pusher are necessary 'to feed the wire through the diea sufficient distance.

As previously noted, the guides 11 arc so curved that they are not only capable of holding the bar against lateral deflec' ion but they extend sufficiently around the periphery of the bar to hold it against vertical deflection. Likewise, the guides 25 and 26 also extend around a sufiicient portion of the periphery of the bar to hold the bar againsty lar, as illustrated in Figures 8 to 13, inclusive, which merely show some forms of bars of non-circular cross section. In Figure 8, thel guides are shown shaped to guide a square rod.l 11A designate the side guide members corresponding to the guide members, 11 previously described and 25A and 26A are the bottom and top guides corre-4 sponding to the guides 25 and 26 previously described. It will be noted that one of the guides 11A engages a portion of the top and a portion ofthe side of the bar while the oher guide,'11A engages a portion of the bottom and a portion of the side. guides thus hold the bar against vertical as well as lateral deflection. The guides 25A and 26A are of complementary shape and serve to hold the bar against lateral as well as vertical deflection.

Figure 8 represen'.s a section taken through the guides at a-point where the guides overlap. The shape of the guides to prevent lateral or vertical deiection is particularly important at the points where the guides do not overlap or at the time when the guides are not completely telescoped. In Figure 9, the guides are shown for cooperation with a thin fiat rod. In Figure 10 the guides are shaped to cooperate with a Z- bar. Figure 11 shows guides for cooperation with a hexagonal-bar and Figure 12 shows guides designed to support an anglebar. In Figure 13 the guides are of such shape that they will give support to a halfround shape. It will be noted that in each of these figures the two side guides are arranged to prevent vertical as well as lateral distorion of the bar and the upper and lower guides are arranged to hold the bar against lateral as well as vertical distortion. In Figure 9 the side guides are designated 11B while the lower and upper guides are 25B and 26B, respectively. In Figure 10 the side guides are designated 11C while the lower and upper guides are 25C and 26C, respectively. In Figure 11, the side guides are 11D and the upper and lower guides are 25D and 26D respectively. In Figure 12 the reference'numerals 11E designate the side guides and 25E and 26E designate the lower and upper guides respectively. Likewise, in Figure 13, 11F are the side guides 25F the'lower guide and 26F the upper guide. In a similar fashion, guides ycan be arranged for cooperation for various non-circular cross sectional shapes.

The advantages of the invention reside in the provision of a telescoping guide struc- These two ture in combination with a pusher so arranged that the wire rwill be supported throughout substantially its entire length between the die and rthe pusher during the entire pushing operation whereby wires of small diameter, particularly, are prevented from buckling. Further advantages reside in the provision of a guide structure which can be opened up through its entire length to carry the wire or rod to be drawn, and in the Vprovision of a'p'usher mechanism with a guide which can be raised or lowered into and out of operative position.

It will be understood that the invention is not confined to the particular construction and arrangement of parts herein disclosed, but various changes and modifications may be made within the contemplation of my invention and under the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

l. Apparatus for feeding wire through a drawing die comprising a pusher mechanism movable with the Wire and having wire engaging grippers, and a plurality of wire engaging guides relatively movable longitudinally interposed between the pusher and the dra-wing die and co-operating with the pusher for guiding the wire into the die.

2. In a wire drawing apparatus, a drawing die, a pusher mechanism having wire engaging grips for starting a length of wire through the die, and telescoping wire engaging guides operatively interposed between the pusher mechanism and the die and movable with the wire for guiding the wire into the die.

3. In a wire drawing machine, a die, a reciprocable pusher movable to and away from the die, a pair of wire engaging guides movable longitudinally with the pusher, and a pair of wire engaging guides which are relatively fixed with respect to the pusher, one pair of guides being complementary to the other, the guides on the pusher being adapted to telescope with the said relatively Xed guides upon reciprocation of the pusher toward the die, said guides being operatively interposed between the pusher and the die and serving to support the wire as the pusher forces it into the die.

4. In a wire drawing mechanism, a die, a pusher mechanism movable toward and away from the die, a pair of wire guides movable longitudinally to and away from the die with the pusher, said guides alsobeing transversely movable, means for effecting transverse movement of said guides, a pair of relatively fixed wire guides between the pusher and the die complementary to the guides which move with the pusher, the guides on the pusher being adapted to telescope with the said second pair of guides upon movement of the pusher toward the die.

5. In a wire drawing mechanism, a die, means for starting a length of wire to be drawn through the die comprising a reciprocable frame movable toward and away from the die, a pair of laterally movable wire guides on the reciprocable frame. means for effecting movement of the guides toward each other upon movement of the frame toward the die and for spreading the guides upon movement of the frame away from the die,

cooperating wire guides which are relatively fixed with reference to said reciprocable frame with which the guides on said frame telescope upon movement of the frame toward the die, and a wire gripping unit on the reciprocable frame. s

6. In a wire drawing mechanism, a die, means for starting a length of wire to be drawn through the die, comprising a reciprocable frame movable towardland away from the die, a pair of laterally movable wire guides on the reciprocable frame, means for effecting movement of the guides toward each other upon movement of the frame toward the die and for spreading the guides upon movement of the frame away from the die, cooperating wire guides which are relatively lixed with reference to said reciprocable frame with which the guides on said frame telescope upon movement of the frame to- Ward the die, and a wire gripping unit on the reciprocable frame, said frame having a slight relatively longitudinal movement with reference to said wire gripping unit to permit the laterally movable wire guides to be l moved toward each other to engage the wire upon movement of the frame toward the die before the wire is gripped.

7. In a wire drawing mechanism, a die, means for starting a length of wire to be drawn through the die, comprising a reciprocable frame movable toward and away from the die, a pair of laterally movable wire guides on the reciprocable frame, means for eecting movement of the guides toward each other upon movementof the frame toward the die and for spreading the guides upon movement of the frame away from the die, cooperating wire guides which are relatively fixed with reference to said reciprocable frame with which the guides on lsaid frame telescope upon movement of the frame toward the die, and a wire gripping unit on the reciprocable frame, said wire grlpping means f being mounted for limited relative longitudinal movement with respect to the frame whereby the frame may move through a portion of its travel before moving the wire gripping unit and thereby eii'eet the closing movement of said guides before the wire -gripping unit is moved.

8. In a wire drawing mechanism, a die, and means for feeding wire into the die, comprising a wire gripping unit movable toward and away from the die, a reciprocable frame, a. pair of laterally movable wire guides on the frame, means for moving the guides toward each other upon initial movement of the frame toward the die and for spreading the guides upon movement of the frame away from the die. means on theframe adaptedy to engage the wire gripping unit after the frame has moved a predetermined distance, means for reciprocating the frame, and relatively fixed wire guides with which the wire guides on the frame telescope when the frame' moves toward the die.

Y 9. In a wire drawing mechanism, a dle, a.

. wire pusher movable toward and away from the die, a pair of laterally movable wire guides associated with the pusher, and a pair of relatively fixed wire guides lying in planes at right angles to the first guides, one pair of guides being supported for movement longitudinally with respect to the other, the said first guidesbeing adapted to telescope with said second mentioned guides upon reciprocation of the pusher toward the die.

10. In a wire drawing mechanism, a wire gripping unit having a pair of transversely movable wire gripping aws therein, vertically reciprocable wedges for opening and closing the jaws, means for reciprocating the wedges, means for moving the wire gripping mechanism toward and away from a drawing die, and telescoping wire guides for supporting and guiding the wire as it is forced Yinto a die operatively associated with the wire gripping mechanism.

11. In a wire drawing mechanism, a drawing die, means for initially pushing the end of a piece of wire to be drawn through the die, comprising a wire gripping unit, a reciprocable frame associated with the unit, means for reciprocating the frame, a pair of transversely movable wire guides on the reciprocable frame, and a second pair of wire guides relatively fixed with respect to the frame and disposed in. planes at right angles to the planes of the guides on the frame, the guides on the frame being adapted to telescope with the said relatively fixed guides upon movement of the frame toward the die to provide continuous support for the end of the wire to be drawn as it is pushed into and through the die, and means for moving one of said relatively fixed guides into and out of operative position.

12. In a wire drawing mechanism a die, a frame movable toward and away from the die, wire guides on the frame movable into and vout of an operative position, relatively fixed wire guides with which the wireV guides on the frame telescope when the frame moves toward the die means for operating said first guides to the operative position upon the initial movement of the frame toward the n VII die, a reciprocable wire gripping unit, and means on the frame for reciprocating the wire gripping unit, said means providing a lost .and out of an operative position, relatively fixed wire guides with which the guides on the frame'telescope when the frame moves toward the die means for operating said first guides to the operative position upon the initial movement of the frame toward the die, a reciprocable wire gripping unit, means on the frame for reciprocating the wire gripping unit, said means providing a lost ,motion between the frame and the gripping unit upon the initial movement of the frame toward the die to permit operation of said first guides to operative position before the gripping unit operates, a gear rack secured to said frame, a pinion engaging the rack, and means for rotating the pinion.

14. In a wire drawing mechanism, a die, a pusher frame movable toward and away from the die, a pair of laterally movable wire guides in the pusher frame, means for reciprocating the pusher frame, a supporting structure for the reciprocable frame, an upper wire guide member and a lower wire guide memberl on the supporting structure, the guides on the frame being adapted to telescope with the guides on the supporting structure, said upper guide being movable into and out of position over the lower guide.

15. In a wire drawing mechanism, a die, a pusher framemovable toward and away from the die, a pair of laterally movable wire guides in the pusher frame, means for reciprocating the pusher frame, a supporting structure for thereciprocable frame, an

upper wire guide member and a lower wire' guide member on the supporting structure,-

the guides on the frame being adapted to telescope with the guides on the support, and means for removably retaining the upper guide in position over the lower guide.

16. In a wire drawing mechanism, a die, and means for initially starting a wire through the die, including a pusher frame, a Wire gripping means on the pusher frame, a pair of opposed wire guides on the pusher frame, apair of relatively fixed guides complementary to the guides on the pusher frame, the ends of the guides on the frame and the ends of the relatively fixed guides normally overlapping eachother, the guides being adapted to substantially surround a v'wire passing therethrough at lthe point where the uides overlap, the guides on the frame belng adapted to telescope the relatively xed guides when the pusher frame moves toward the die, and means4 for reciprocating the Apusher frame.

17. Apparatus for feeding wire through a drawing die, comprising a pusher mechanism, a pair of wire guides one guide of the pair being located at each side of the wire being fed to the-die, a second pair of wire.

guides, one guide of .the pair being located below and the other'above the wire being fed the guides of the two pairs being teleseopingly arranged, said guides of the first pair being adapted tohold the wire against vertical as well as lateral displacement, said guides of the second pair being adapted to hold the wire against lateral as well as vertical displacement.

18. In a wire drawing apparatus, a drawing die, a pusher mechanism for starting a length of wire through the die and telescoping wire guides operatively interposed between the pusher mechanism land the die, said guides comprising two pairs, one guide of the first pair being located at each side of the wire being fed, one guide of the second pair above and the other below said wire, each pair of guidel members e'ngaging horizontal and vertical faces of the wire so that each pair of guide members supports the wire being operated upon against lateral and vertical deiection.

19. In a wire drawing machine, -a die, a wire pusher mechanism for feeding wire through the die, telescoping wire guides operatively interposed between the pusher mechanism and the die, and a support for said pusher mechanism and guides movable into and out of an operating position Where the pusher is in line with the die to a position Where the pusher and guides are clear of the wire being drawn into the die.

20. In a wire drawing machine, a die, a wire pusher mechanism for feeding wire through the die, telescoping wire guides 0peratively interposed between the pusher mechanism and the die, and a vertically movable support on which the pusher mechanism and wire guides are carried operable from a position Where the pusher, and guides are in line with the die to a position in which they are below the die and clear of the travel of the wire into the die, and means for operating the' support.

21. In a wire drawing machine, a die, a wire pusher mechanism for feeding wire through the die, telescoping wire guides operatively interposed between the pusher mechanism and the die, a vertically movable support on which the pusher mechanism and guides are carried, whereby the pusher mechanism and guides may be raised and lowered with respect to the die, and means for operating the support, said pusher and guides having relatively movable wire engaging elements adapted to be moved out of an operative position over the wire when the support is lowered with respect tothe die whereby the wire may be clear of the pusher mechanism and guides when the support is lowered to inoperative position.

22. In a wire drawing machine, a die, a pusher mechanism for feeding wire through lthe die, a pair of laterally 'movable wire guides, a second pair of wire guides comprising an upper guide and a lower guide cooperating with the laterally movable ones, the former being also arranged to telescope with the latter, one pair being supported for longitudinalmovement relatively to the other, said wire guides being operatively interposed'between the pusher and die and serving to support the wire as the pusher forces it into the die, the telescopic arrangement of the guides permitting the overall length vcombination with a die, of a wire gripping pusher movable toward and away fromthe die. and a guide having'portions relatively movable longitudinally operatively interposed between the pusher and die and which serves to support the portion of the wire eX- tending between the pusher and the die in the operation of starting wire through the die as the pusher moves toward the die, said ,guide being` also arranged to be open and shut whereby the end of a wire mav be laid therein when the guide is open and confined when the guide is shut. and means for releasablv holding the guide shut.

25. In a steel drawing apparatus, the combination of a die, means for pushing the steel through the die, means disposed between said pushing means and said die for guiding the steel including steel engaging portions relatively movable to each other -longitudinallyceltain of said portions mov- -able with the steel.

I 2,6. In a mechanism for drawing wire, a die. a pusher having wire gripping means thereon. a wire engaging guide including relatively longitudinally movable portions operatively interposed between the die and the pusher. certain of said portions movable with the Wire. said guides having open and closed positions and permitting a wire to be laid thereinv when they are in open'position and to confine the wire therebetween and guide it into the diey when lthey are in closed position.

27. In a mechanism for drawing wire, a die, a pusher 'having Wire gripping means thereon, a wire engaging guide including relatively movable portions voperatively interposed between the die and thepusher certain of said portions movable with the wire, said guides and said pusher having an open position and a closed position, the guides and the pusher permitting a Wire to be laid therein through the top thereof when the are in open position, and serving to con ne and guide the wire into the die in closed' position.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set f my hand. f-

JACOB T. LEECH. 

